Pierce County dropped a Region 3-AA series to rival Appling County in a matchup of MaxPreps Top 10 programs.
The sixth-ranked Bears (12-5 overall, 4-2 region) stretched their winning streak to seven games doubling up the ninth-ranked Pirates (9-9, 4-1) 6-3 in the Tuesday, March 18 series opener in Baxley.
Inclement weather Thursday, March 20 forced the two teams to play a doubleheader Friday, March 21. Appling County escaped with a pair of one-run victories winning 3-2 in Game 1 and taking the nightcap 2-1.
The Bears face 24thranked Crisp County (5-13, 0-3), who was swept by 13th-ranked Cook, in the third round of region play this week. The Cougars visited Tuesday, March 25 with the series shifting to Cordele for Game 2 Thursday, March 27. The finale is scheduled for Friday, March 28 in Bearville at 6 p.m.
PCHS faces Cook in the final region series starting Tuesday, April 11 in Adel at 6 p.m. Bearville will be the site of Game 2 Thursday, April 3 at 6 p.m., with the series finale set for Friday, April 4 in Adel at 6 p.m.
Game 1 No. 6 Bears...............6 No. 9 Appling Co. .....3
BAXLEY — A four-run third inning gave PCHS the lead for good in capturing the series opener with the Pirates.
Emmitt Hall (4 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 4 K, 2 BB, 1 HBP) and Jaxton Harris (3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 7 K, 2 BB, 1 HBP) combined on a five-hitter. Harris stretched his hitless inning streak to 13.2 innings.
Appling County struck for a first inning run against Hall stringing together three consecutive two-out hits for a 1-0 lead.
After leaving two on in the second inning, the Bears plated four runs in the third to take a 4-1 lead. Beck Hodges (1-for-3) led with a base hit and stole second ahead of a one-out walk to Christian Osbourne (1-for-2).
Hall (2-for-4) followed two pitches later with a run-scoring single tying the score and was lifted for courtesy runner James Alonzo. Jonathan Stone (1-for-2) was hit for the second time in two plate appearances (three total) on the ensuing pitch loading the bases. Pierce County had five batters hit in the game.
Dylan Figueroa (1-for-4) laced a two-out, two-run double giving PCHS a 3-1 lead. Braxton McCook and Garrett Stevenson each were hit by a pitch with Stevenson credited with a bases loaded RBI.
Pierce County added a run in the fourth to take a 5-1 lead. Chance Williams (1-for-3) drew leadoff walk, stole second, was sacrificed to third by Osbourne, and scored on Hall’s base hit.
The Pirates responded with two run in the bottom of the inning scoring on a ground out and a two-out single to climb to within 53.
PCHS added an insurance run in the sixth. Williams lined a first-pitch, leadoff single, stole second and moved to third on Osborne’s sacrifice bunt. Williams scored on Hall’s groundout.
Appling County stranded a runner in each of the final three innings against Harris.
Game 2 No. 9 Appling Co. .....3 No. 6 Bears...............2
BEARVILLE — Appling County scored single runs in three innings and never let the Bears get closer than a run in the middle game of the series.
PCHS left the tying run at third and go-ahead run at second in the sixth inning before going in order in the seventh.
The Pirates grabbed a 10 lead in their first at bat. A one-out hit batter and walk were followed by Ethan Baltazar's run-scoring double off Harris (6 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 K, 2 BB, 2 HBP). The hit ended a 14inning hitless stretch for the Bears' right-hander.
Baltazar blasted a twoout solo homer in the third inning upping the Appling County margin to 2-0.
Pierce County broke through against the Pirates' southpaw Kaden Walls in the fourth inning after just one batter reached through the first three frames — a one-out first inning walk to Osbourne (2-for-2). The PCHS designated hitter opened the fourth with a leadoff single. Hall (1-for-2) followed with a single three pitches later.
After Osborne scooted over to third on a passed ball, he scored on Jack McClellan's one-out grounder cutting the deficit to 2-1.
The Pirates got the run back in the top of the fifth sandwiching a pair of singles around a groundout to extend the lead to 3-1. A sacrifice fly with runners on the corners did the damage.
PCHS only scored once in the sixth. Williams (1for-3) legged out a oneout, infield hit and raced to third on an errant throw. Osbourne's ensuing single plated Williams ending Walls' afternoon. Hall drew a four-pitch walk from reliever Dason Griffis.
Stone grounded into a fielder's choice play at second with Osbourne reaching third. Stone's courtesy runner, Dylan Johnson, stole second ahead of the final out.
Game 3 No. 9 Appling Co. .....2 No. 6 Bears ...............1
BEARVILLE — A twoout passed ball allowed the Pirates to break a 1-all tie in beating Pierce County for the series win.
Down 1-0 against Hall (5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 6 K, 0 BB, 1 HBP), a leadoff single and a hit batter set up Appling County. After a sacrifice bunt put the runners in scoring position, a groundout tied the score at 1-apiece. A 1-1 passed ball allowed the second run of the inning.
Pierce County scored in the first inning against Harrison Hickox. Williams drew a leadoff walk ahead of Osbourne's (1-for-3) first-pitch single. Hall (1for-2) followed with a sacrifice bunt moving both runners into scoring position. Stone's ensuing groundout plated Williams for a 1-0 lead.
Appling County stranded two base runners over the first four innings before breaking through for its two runs in the fifth. The Pirates were unable to add an insurance run in the sixth after loading the bases on a one-out single, and a two-out hit batter and walk against Stone (2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 K, 2 BB, 2 HBP).
They left two on in the seventh following a oneout walk and hit batter.
PCHS left runners on the corners in the fourth. Hall laced a leadoff double and was removed for courtesy runner Mark Sweet, who stole third with one out. Johnson was hit by a two-out pitch from Hickox and stole second before the final out was recorded.
McCook was left on base in the fifth and drawing a leadoff walk. McClellan reached on a two-out single in the sixth.
Dawson fanned two of the three batters he faced in the seventh to get his second save of the day.
